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CWI Digicel Regional 4-day C/Ships…Jaguars aim to extend gap on points table
Face 2nd placed Red Force in D/N game tomorrow
Shiv Chanderpaul
By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with Vnet Communications
Defending champions and front runners Guyana Jaguars, will hope their top order, which has failed in every game this season, builds a solid foundation when they oppose second placed Trinbago Red Force from tomorrow in the fourth round of the CWI Digicel Regional four-day Championships at the Brian Lara Academy in a Day/Night game.
The Jaguars beat Jamaica Scorpions and the Windward Hurricanes before an unbeaten 97 from Vishaul Singh and a second innings century from Shiv Chanderpaul (whose 20 tons at Regional level is only bettered by Devon Smith), ensured a draw against the Leeward Volcanoes in St Kitts after the Jaguars were forced to follow-on.
Jaguars have only lost twice in their last 33 games and maintain the lead with 46.6 points, while Red Forces’ 10-wicket win against Hurricanes despite Smith’s 25th Regional ton, take them to 41.4 points and pushed the Volcanoes (38.6) to third place.
The Red Force batting, even without their big names, have been strong; scoring 300 in a drawn game against Barbados, 380-7 declared against Jamaica in another draw against the Jamaicans and 402 in their last round win.
In their first match at this venue, the Jaguars’ bowlers will need to operate with more consistency than they did in St Kitts since the track should be good for batting.
Denesh Ramdin, still arguable the best Keeper in the West Indies, has two centuries and a fifty in 316 runs this season, while Jason Mohammed scored a century in his only match. Yannic Cariah and 21-year-old left-hander Tion Webster also have hundreds this season.
They will need support from 24-year-old Ewart Nicolson who scored 74 and 55 against Barbados, 22-year-old Jeremy Solozano, Imran Khan and Bajan Kyle Hope who has failed miserably for the West Indies but returned to Regional cricket with a half-century in the last round.
The Red Force bowling will be led by leg-spinner Khan, who has 18 wickets, Bryan Charles, Bajan pacer Roshan Primus, Guyanese born Marlon Richards and Webster.
Both teams are banking on youth as Ramdin, at 32, is the oldest player on the Red Force team, while apart from 43-year-old Chanderpaul, Skipper Leon Johnson, one of seven left-handers in the squad, is the oldest at 31.
Singh, Chanderpaul, Johnson and Rajendra Chandrika have played Test cricket but it is unlikely that the badly out of sorts Chandrika will play tomorrow leaving the bulk of the batting to Chanderpaul, Singh and wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble, who made consecutive fifties in St Lucia and St Kitts. A lot is also expected from Johnson, still searching for his best form but is widely regarded as the best leader in the West Indies.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul is yet to register a hundred from 19 First-Class games and his batting seems to have regressed. But the 21-year-old could be given a final chance tomorrow at the top of the order with Chanderpaul Hemraj, who has not fired since his first round 60.
Kemo Paul scored Guyana’s first century and with Sherfane Rutherford are capable all-rounders and with Veerasammy Permaul and even Keon Joseph, who shared in a 75-run last wicket stand with Singh in St Kitts, Guyana’s batting is strong on paper. But cricket is played in the middle and not on paper as the Jaguars’ 67-7 in the last round proved.
On a track that is expected to assist the spinners a bit, the Jaguars could be tempted to replace fast bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd with 22-year-old Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who has 66 wickets from 18 First-class games with four five-wicket hauls.
Pacer Joseph, who looks bigger, fitter and better after his West Indies ‘A’ team experience, could expect pace support from Paul and Rutherford who have both captured five-wicket hauls in their fledging careers, while Permaul, with 17 scalps this season and Motie who missed both overseas games, could provide spin along with Hemraj’s useful left-arm spin.
With the encounter scheduled to commence at 15:00hrs and the match being played in South Trinidad, a decent crowd is expected especially on the weekend. The Jaguars had their first practice session last evening at the Brian Lara ground.
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